He paced back and forth, making people dizzy. Shen Tangning pulled him to sit down, her fingertips stroking his furrowed brows as she patiently comforted him: "There's no use in being anxious now; you'll only make things worse for yourself."
The pressure between his brows was gentle yet firm. His brows relaxed, and he raised his hand to grasp her fingertips, his eyes slightly downcast: "Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Go about your business." Shen Tangning's eyes sparkled, and a smile crept onto her brows. "I'll have someone keep an eye on him."
Chi Yan pursed her lips and remained silent. She frowned in confusion: "What's wrong?"
He suddenly snuggled up to her, wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his chin on her shoulder, and said in a muffled voice, "A-Ning, it's so good to have you."
She was startled by the warm breath on her ear, then turned her head uncomfortably and coughed lightly: "What's so good about it?"
After a while, Chi Yan's deep voice sounded in her ear, making her earlobe tingle slightly: "With you by my side, it's like I have some kind of strength to support me."
Those words were a bit too cheesy, and her eyes flickered slightly.
He paused slightly, then slowly said, "I used to live a muddled life, seemingly carefree, as if I could just get by, but I've never really felt a sense of belonging here."
Hearing this, Shen Tangning paused, her slender eyebrows furrowing slightly, a look of confusion flashing in her eyes:
What does it mean to have no sense of belonging to this place?
It's as if he doesn't belong here at all.
Come to think of it, that was exactly the feeling Chi Yan gave her; he seemed completely out of place here, both in his behavior and his thoughts…
Her eyes glazed over for a moment, then she instinctively gripped his hand, her voice soft: "And now?"
Chi Yan's deep laughter came from his chest: "Because of your existence, I have found a sense of belonging, and I feel that all of this is real."
Chi's parents loved him, but that was based on the premise that he was their son.
Like NPCs in a game with pre-programmed rules, they will love each other unconditionally, regardless of whether their son is him or not.
But Shen Tangning was different. She was like a bright spot that suddenly burst into his dull and boring life, unexpectedly vibrant and lively.
She liked him, without any other external factors, simply because he was Chi Yan.
Shen Tangning turned her head and stared at him intently. She had always thought that being sentimental was a woman's natural talent, but she never expected that Chi Yan also had a sensitive and delicate heart.
She suddenly grasped his hand, slowly pressed it against her face, and asked him with her clear eyes, "Do you think I really exist?"
Her warmth traveled through his palm, and Chi Yan's fingertips curled slightly, like a tingling electric shock that sent shivers down his spine.
He smiled and said, "Of course."
She also curled her lips into a smile: "Then this world is real too, Huaizhi, don't be afraid."
Although he hid it well, she did sense a hint of unease beneath his calm exterior.
Shen Tangning didn't know where this came from, but she subconsciously felt that he needed to be comforted at this moment.
Chi Yan's eyelashes fluttered, and he carefully cupped her chin, kissing her almost reverently.
"I must have accumulated a lot of good fortune in my past life."
She clenched her fists slightly, a sharp, stabbing pain shooting through her heart, and slowly closed her eyes.
Shen Tangning suddenly felt a pang of regret. If she had paid more attention to Chi Yan in her past life, perhaps her Huai Zhi wouldn't have died alone that summer.
But at that time, she had no idea that one day she and Chi Yan would have such an inseparable entanglement.
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